self-reflexive
UK[ˌself rɪˈflɛksɪv]US[ˌself rɪˈflɛksɪv]
adj
(Of a literary or artistic work) making reference to itself, its own processes, or its own status as an artifact.
adj
(Of a person, thought, or process) characterized by or showing self-awareness and self-examination.
Morpheme Breakdown
self
reflexive
self
own
reflexive
bending back
Etymology
The compound "self-reflexive" is a modern English formation built upon two deeply rooted concepts. "Self" is a fundamental Germanic term for identity, traceable to Proto-Indo-European selbʰ- (one's own). "Reflexive" originates from Latin 'reflectere', combining 're-' (back) and 'flectere' (to bend), describing a literal turning back. In philosophy and grammar, "reflexive" came to denote actions directed back upon the subject. The fusion of these elements in the 20th century, particularly in literary and critical theory, creates a term that logically describes a work or thought that consciously "bends back" to examine its own nature, mechanisms, or identity, transforming a physical concept of reflection into a metaphor for meta-awareness.
Analysis
Structure: self (own) + reflexive (bending back)
- self: From Old English 'self', 'seolf', 'sylf', meaning "own, same." It functions as a prefix denoting identity or sameness.
- reflexive: From Latin 'reflexivus', from 'reflectere' (to bend back). The morpheme 'flex' (from Latin 'flectere', to bend) is embedded within the established English word "reflexive," which functions as a suffix here meaning "directed or turned back upon itself."
Examples
The film is highly self-reflexive, featuring scenes where the actors discuss the script they are performing.
Her writing employs a self-reflexive style, often commenting on the difficulty of narration itself.
A truly self-reflexive critique must consider its own biases and methodological assumptions.